OUR King Charles III was crowned on Saturday at Westminster Abbey, receiving his crown St. Edward in a ceremony based on an ancient tradition, at a time when the British monarchy is trying to stay relevant.

Trumpets sounded inside the medieval abbey, and those present shouted “God save the king!” More than 2,000 guests attended the service, including chiefs, nobles and celebrities. Thousands of soldiers, tens of thousands of spectators and a few demonstrators gathered outside. At the same time, according to information, 300 million people around the world watched the coronation.

Later crowned Charles and Camilla greeted the crowd from Buckingham Palace.

A journey of seven decades

This was the culmination of the seventy year journey of the king, who was crowned as monarch.

For the royal family and the government, the reason iscodenamed Operation Golden Sphereis a showcase of British heritage, tradition and spectacle.

For the crowd gathered under the rainy sky, thousands of whom had camped since last night, it was a chance to witness a historic event.

For others, it was an indifferent day, while some also protested, as there are quite a few who want Britain to become a non-ruling republic. The authorities also made arrests.

As the big day began, Westminster Abbey was buzzing with excitement. Upon the arrival of dignitaries, it was adorned with fragrant flowers and brightly colored hats. Among them, in addition to royal families from all over the planet, US First Lady Jill Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, eight current and former British Prime Ministers, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, judges, decorated soldiers and celebrities such as Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, Lionel Richie, Nick Cave and Katy Perry.

Innovation

During a traditional Anglican service, which was slightly modified to fit the modern times, Charles, dressed in crimson and cream robes, swore on the Bible.

However, a preamble was added to the coronation oath, in which they wanted to emphasize that the Church of England “will strive to create an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs can live freely”. The focus of the day is a letter from the Bible read by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is Britain’s first Hindu leader.

The gospel choir performed “Hallelujah”, composed for the coronation. and for the first time female clergymen participated in the ceremony. It was also the first coronation in which representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh religions took part.

In an ancient display of royalty, Charles was anointed with oil from the Mount of Olives in the Holy Land and given the orb, sword and scepter before Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, placed a solid gold crown studded with over 400 jewels on the head of the monarch.

After a heavy wreath was laid, horns and gun salutes sounded throughout the UK.

1000 years of rule and protests

For more than 1,000 years, British monarchs have been crowned in such grandiose ceremonies, confirming their right to rule. Charles was the 40th monarch to be enthroned in the abbey and the oldest at 74.

The King remains the head of state of the United Kingdom and a symbol of national identity. Of course, Charles will have to work hard to maintain a multicultural nation and support the monarchy at a time when its popularity is on the decline, especially among young people.

The anti-monarchist group Respublika said six of its members, including its chief executive, were arrested while participating in a demonstration. The police, who warned they would show “limited tolerance” for those trying to disrupt the order, said four people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to harm the community.

Environmental group Just Stop Oil said more than 10 of its members were also arrested.

The arrests drew criticism for police suppression of free speech, with Human Rights Watch saying the arrests were “something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London.”

The cost and unity of the family

The multi-million dollar cost of all this splendor – the exact figure is unknown, although it is said to be as high as £100m – has also sparked protests amid the cost of living crisis, which means many Britons are struggling to pay for their energy. bills and buy groceries.

However, Charles aspired to lead the smaller and cheaper royal “machine” of the 21st century. His coronation was shorter than Elizabeth’s three-hour ceremony, with fewer guests and a shorter procession.

At the same time, there was an attempt to hide the shameful enmity of the royal family and show unity. The event was attended by Crown Prince William, his wife Kate and their three children. Near the end of the ceremony, William knelt before his father and swore allegiance to the king before kissing him on the cheek.

The Archbishop of Canterbury then urged everyone in the abbey to swear “true allegiance” to the monarch. He said that people who watch on TV can also pay their respects.

William’s younger brother Prince Harry, who had quarreled publicly with his family, arrived alone. His wife Meghan and their children have remained in California, where the couple have lived since leaving the royal family in 2020.

When Charles and high-ranking members of the royal family joined the grand military procession after the ceremony, Harry waited outside the abbey until a car arrived to take him away.

It’s worth noting that the snaps also focused on little Prince Louis, who made his favorite faces throughout the coronation.

The “new” audience, 70 years later

Huge crowds cheered for Charles and Camilla, who rode in the Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee carriage from the Abbey to Buckingham Palace, accompanied by a procession of 4,000 soldiers and bands playing merry tunes.

The public today is very different from the public that saw the coronation of Elizabeth. Nearly 20% of school attendees now belong to ethnic minorities, compared with less than 1% in the 1950s. More than 300 languages ​​are spoken in British schools, and less than half of the population identify themselves as Christians.

However, people came from all over the world and from all over the UK to join the event.

Source: Associated Press.